Quarterback Competition Update (4-11-11)

[JughedJones]

Crist starts the first 6 games getting a slight injury in 2 of the games. Hendrix gets put in as back up and shows great ability to manage a run heavy offense. He is thrusted into the USC game as starter because Crist was injured during bye week. Comes out guns a blazing! Pulls a Rees esque game to pull off the win. Hendrix is then injured mid way 2nd quarter of Wake Forest. in steps Rees. Manages game enough to get us a heavy lead. Golson (who has been pulling a series here and there all season) steps in for some valuable reps. Rees and Golson tag team Maryland and we are in BCS game against Oklahoma. Not sure who to prepare for because both Hendrix and Crist are fully recovered we throw Golson in to start. He comes out feet rolling before he hits the ground. Seven minutes into the game Sooners are confused, tired from over pursuing, not prepared fully for a runner with a flick to receivers that stretch the field further, we start to dominate. Now running all 3 QB in the BCS game keeping Sooners on their toes, we roll.

BOOM .... thats your QB issue in a nutshell!?!?!!!??


Next year .... if we can land DGB ... I dont give a damn who our QB is. He wont miss!

I just wet myself.

 

[Old Man Mike]

If I was Kelly [and thank the stars I am not], I'd be considering running a couple of series of Hendrix/Golson type spread in the USF game, and also a couple of series of Theo type wildcat. This wouldn't be for USF's "benefit" but to harass the UofM defensive staff.

 

[kmoose]

If I was Kelly [and thank the stars I am not], I'd be considering running a couple of series of Hendrix/Golson type spread in the USF game, and also a couple of series of Theo type wildcat. This wouldn't be for USF's "benefit" but to harass the UofM defensive staff.

The who?

 

[Old Man Mike]

University of Michigan Defensive coordinator and his staff... they will watch the USF game film and have to waste a lot of practice time getting only partially ready for multiple offensive sets. I didn't realize that this was a puzzling statement [given that Hoke has a new D-group of coaches,] but maybe the response was supposed to be a joke. If so ... nevermind the explanation.

 

[RyCo1983]

Mike...he was referring to the absolute lack of defense out of the Michigan camp.

 

[GreatGolson]

i think as soon as we take a 1 TD lead to run the veer option for the rest of the game

 

[Old Man Mike]

I apologize. The fact that Rodriguez is no longer there and replaced by a D-minded staff has made me not assume that they will absolutely stink on that side of the ball. But if we are referring to last year, sure, then I get it.

 

[KPENN]

Not a fan of blowing a year of Golson's eligibility for "wildcat" packages

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Not a fan of blowing a year of Golson's eligibility for "wildcat" packages

I really want to see Everett play, but I'm with ya.

If he plays I want it to mean something.

 

[kmoose]

Sorry, Old Man. It was indeed meant as a jab at the Skunkbears. I don't expect their defense to be very good this year. I think they were down to like 5 DBs, total, on the roster by the end of the season? I expect to see improvement, but I still expect them to be pretty mediocre, at best. And I have to get the Michigan shots in, when and where I can take them.

 

[Riddickulous]

Greg Mattison wasn't teeerrible at Notre Dame, but there were a lot of highly rated players that never panned out.

 

[IrishandColts]

It'll be Golson vs Hendrix in the Blue and Gold game via Brian Kelly.

 

[RallySonsOfND]

It'll be Golson vs Hendrix in the Blue and Gold game via Brian Kelly.

I'm stoked for the spring game.

 

[GreatGolson]

It'll be Golson vs Hendrix in the Blue and Gold game via Brian Kelly.

A) where are the others????

b) YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Notre Dame football: Quarterback Everett Golson's opportunity is music to his ears - southbendtribune.com

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Notre Dame football: Quarterback Everett Golson's opportunity is music to his ears - southbendtribune.com

Man, I really really like Golson. I can't wait to see what he brings to the table Saturday. I'm not gonna put huge expectations on him. But I'd like to see him breakout a few nice plays.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

From SI Mailbag:

The Notre Dame QB competition seems cloudier than ever after the conclusion of spring ball. Do you think having four viable options at QB with varying skill sets will prove a good or bad thing for the Irish?
-- Luke, Estero, Fla.

I don't think it's as murky as Brian Kelly would have you believe. Dayne Crist is Notre Dame's quarterback. He's talented and savvy enough, and he's got more experience than the other three. Barring an unexpected development, he'll be the starting quarterback in the fall, and I believe he's poised for a very big year. But Crist has also gotten hurt each of the past two years. And before that, at Cincinnati, Kelly lost his starting quarterback for multiple games in both 2008 and '09. So he knows more than anyone the importance of having more than one capable guy ready to go at any moment and will continue to develop Tommy Rees and Andrew Hendrix accordingly.

But I also get the sense, both from Kelly's comments and the way he deployed him in the spring game, that he knows freshman early-enrollee Everett Golson is the Irish's quarterback of the future. A guy that can both run and pass is the ideal fit for his spread offense. The question is, does that future begin this fall, using Golson in situational packages a la Urban Meyer with then-freshman Tim Tebow in 2006? Or, with three other quarterbacks available, does he redshirt him and create more spacing between the classes? Either way, it's hard to imagine juggling all four guys for the next two seasons. Somebody's going to get lost in the shuffle.



Read more: Oregon vs. LSU, Jim Tressel, Notre Dame quarterback and more - Stewart Mandel - SI.com

Notice I did not start a new thread for this

 

[Old Man Mike]

Stimulus-Response Learning. Now when the bell rings, there will be food.

 

[tankjeep]

Stimulus-Response Learning. Now when the bell rings, there will be food.

ding ding!!

 

[woolybug25]

Yo, insiders... what's the dealio?

from ESPN Insider:

Dayne Crist will start, but his backup may surprise you.

College Football Rumors - Rumor Central - NCAA - ESPN

 

[Ironman8]

Yo, insiders... what's the dealio?

from ESPN Insider:


College Football Rumors - Rumor Central - NCAA - ESPN

It quotes Eric Hansen in his chat here:

Live Chat: Talk Notre Dame football with Eric Hansen - southbendtribune.com

Thinks that Hendrix will pass Tommy for #2, and that Golson will play this year in certain packages regardless.

 

[woolybug25]

thank you, sir

 

[Ironman8]

Great article on Dayne from 24/7:

Coming out of high school as a blue-chip quarterback recruit, Dayne Crist probably thought he’d be on cruise control as a solidified starter entering his senior season. Instead, the third-year signal caller with 2,163 yards, including a team-high 2,033 yards as a starter in nine games last season, found his career at a crossroad as he faced old and new challenges standing in the way of his bid to open the 2011 season as the starter.

Crist again opened the spring sessions with a repaired knee after he suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left knee during the Oct. 30 loss to Tulsa, which required surgery. At this time last spring, Crist was still recovering from ACL surgery on his right knee and was limited throughout the 15 practices, so such adversity was nothing new.

“Just the experience you have from a rehab standpoint, not comparing the two injuries, but just the time you spend in rehab,” Crist said of the recovery process. “You understand when to push yourself, when to back off a little bit and you have a great awareness of your own body.

“No one knows your body better than you do. You’re just kind of able to push through some things that you may not have wanted to do if you had never been injured before. We really looked at it week to week. ... We never got too far ahead of ourselves.”

Though Crist knew what to expect from his recovery, the competition he faced at quarterback this spring was a completely different dynamic that what endured a year ago. Then, the California native was the only credible candidate amid a competition that included a true freshman and early enrollee in Tommy Rees and walk-on Nate Montana, who started his career at Notre Dame in 2008 before transferring to Pasadena (Calif.) Community College in 2009 (where he completed just 31 of 88 pass attempts for 324 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions as a third-string quarterback that season), then returned to South Bend in January of 2010.

This spring’s competition featured four quarterbacks that each brought unique qualities to the mix that enhanced each player’s bid to ultimately earn the starting role. While Crist’s leadership is undoubtedly unmatched, he doesn’t seem to click with head coach Brian Kelly’s offense the way Rees does, evidenced by performances in the final four and a half games of last season in Crist’s absence. During that span, Rees posted a 4-0 record as a starter and completed 94 of 155 pass attempts (61 percent) for 1,027 yards with 12 touchdowns.

Despite leading the team with four rushing touchdowns last season, Crist doesn’t appear as capable as a runner as either sophomore Andrew Hendrix or true freshman Everett Golson, who worked out as an early enrollee this spring. Hendrix and Golson each put their scrambling ability on display during the Apr. 16 Blue-Gold Game, particularly Hendrix, who scored a pair of touchdowns in the Gold Team’s win.

In spite of the increased competition, Crist has remained determined.

“Dayne’s not the kind of kid that’s going to get down on himself and throw in the towel,” junior starting center Braxston Cave said. “He’s very motivated and hard-headed and he’s going to do everything he can to get himself on top.

“Most people that know Dayne think of him as a well-spoken, nice guy, but behind the scenes he’s edgy. He’s definitely got an attitude and he definitely brings it out on the field. He’s definitely one of the biggest competitors on the team.”

Where Does Crist Fit In?
Despite Tommy Rees’ record as a starter and his understanding of Kelly’s offense, or the intrigue Hendrix sparks as a second-year player with untapped potential in Kelly’s spread offense, or the fact that Golson was the first hand-picked quarterback of the Kelly era in South Bend, it would be hard-pressed for anyone who has closely followed the Irish this spring, particularly those who listened in during VERSUS’ broadcast of the Blue-Gold Game, to suggest that Crist isn’t the undeniable leader of the Irish offense. None of his competitors seemed to take control of the huddle like Crist did, and none appeared as vocal on the sidelines.

Whether that’s enough to earn Kelly’s confidence as the starter when South Florida travels to Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 3 remains to be seen.

In spite of the many criticisms levied against his performances last season, which produced just a 4-5 record in nine starts, Crist is hardly incapable of running Kelly’s offense. He threw for more than 300 yards on two occasions – 369 against Michigan State (Sept. 18) and 304 against Stanford (Sept. 25) – and probably would have done so against Michigan on Sept. 11 had he not missed all but the opening series of the first half. He still threw for 277 yards in that game, including a 95-yard strike to former tight end Kyle Rudolph that briefly gave Notre Dame a 24-21 lead with just under four minutes to play.

Crist will have to develop more consistency, however, if he is to secure and hold on to a starting role.

If Crist is not the starter, expect him to take on a role as a mentor. His leadership is too important to go unused in some capacity on the sidelines if he doesn’t end up between them.

What’s A Good Season?
Crist is the veteran. As a senior, a good season is claiming the starting job during the spring, and then maintaining that role throughout the season. It’s hard to fathom a scenario that would see a healthy Crist serve as a backup this season and then return with a legitimate chance to compete for a starting role as a possible fifth-year senior in 2012. Time is slowly becoming of the essence for Crist’s collegiate career.

Further, he’ll have to stay healthy, something he hasn’t done in his two seasons to date.

Regardless of whom earns the starting job, that quarterback will be expected to produce. Anything less than 10 wins would likely do little to inspire anyone with an interest in Irish football, particularly his coaches, especially the fans. Another five-loss season would likely shatter any faith in Crist as the starter, though it’s unlikely any quarterback would be permitted to rack up as many losses.

With more than 2,000 yards in nine games as a starter (though he missed about six quarters in those nine games due to injuries), Crist should be capable of becoming one of the more productive quarterbacks in Notre Dame history, and rack up more than 3,000 yards. And while he’s not a prolific runner, Crist proved to be a threat near the redzone with four rushing touchdowns last season. With a thin running back corps entering the fall, Kelly is likely to require more from his quarterback in the rushing department to make up the difference. Crist is unlikely to break any long runs, but he can keep opposing defenses honest.

Perhaps most importantly, Crist has to prove he’s on the same page with his head coach, something that wasn’t always the case during the growing pains of Kelly’s first season at Notre Dame.

“He’s got a greater expectation for us and we have a greater expectation for ourselves,” Crist said. “Also, the other thing is we know each other better. We have a relationship now. We understand each other, we know how to talk to one another — we’re thinking the same way. That makes things much easier.”

Notre Dame Football Post-Spring Projection Dayne Crist

 

[D-BOE34]

Good article. Crist will win out but I wouldn't be surprised if we see Rees getting thrown in if were up by a good lead in the 4th to maintain the game with Golson coming in a few series till he starts to break out! Rees has shown he can not only manage a game but he can still win a game. Golson is just going to be sick when the speed of the game slows down for him.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Good article. Crist will win out but I wouldn't be surprised if we see Rees getting thrown in if were up by a good lead in the 4th to maintain the game with Golson coming in a few series till he starts to break out! Rees has shown he can not only manage a game but he can still win a game. Golson is just going to be sick when the speed of the game slows down for him.

I'm not so sure Rees will be getting trash minutes; that time is going to be precious, because we have so many 2nd and 3rd string guys that need to get reps this year in preparation for 2012.

Rees is Crist's backup. If Crist goes down or can't perform, Rees will step in. But if the game's already sewn up, I think Kelly hands those minutes to Hendrix or Golson.

 

[D-BOE34]

I still want Manti back there in wildcat!!

 

[Rhode Irish]

I'm not so sure Rees will be getting trash minutes; that time is going to be precious, because we have so many 2nd and 3rd string guys that need to get reps this year in preparation for 2012.

Rees is Crist's backup. If Crist goes down or can't perform, Rees will step in. But if the game's already sewn up, methinks Kelly hands those minutes to Hendrix or Golson.

Yeah, I agree with all of this. (Except for the use of "methinks". I can't wait until that stops)

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Yeah, I agree with all of this. (Except for the use of "methinks". I can't wait until that stops)

Fixed. (Not sure why I typed that. I never say it.)

 

[Rhode Irish]

I meant no offense. I just don't get the use of it on the interweb. I don't think I've ever heard anyone drop a "methinks" during a conversation in person, but its definitely a thing on message boards. When I hear it (read it), I just picture the Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons. (Again, no offense. Believe me, its far from personal. Just throwing this out there.)

 

[Old Man Mike]

We are ignoring the obvious package where Aaron Lynch gets the snap and runs the option with Big Lou Nix sweeping. Big Lou is already politicking for that on the goal line --- "The Fast Fridge" is the codeword.